Mumbai: The condition of night school teachers in the city is getting worse day by day. From insufficient salaries to increasing work pressure, teachers complain that the problems are affecting their students. Students, on the other hand, who are working during the daytime, feel that completing their education is hard given the circumstances in schools and colleges.
“The main purpose of our schools is to provide education to the kids or even adults who are busy working in the morning hours. It has been more than five years that our school has only two teachers for close to 73 students. Even after requesting the government to recruit more teachers, nothing has happened,” a teacher said, who is teaching in a Mumbra-based school.
Meanwhile, the schools in Bandra, Govandi and Santacruz are facing similar issues. Teachers are either paid less as compared to the day school teachers or are in a lot of pressure. “We used to have five teachers earlier and now three of them have been transferred to day timings after government’s resolution last year. Adding to this, the pay scale difference is forcing many of us to look for schools in the former timings,” another teacher said.
Due to the present scenario, students too, especially in college-level, are giving up on night colleges and are opting for private exams to complete their education. “I am 24-year-old and since I could not complete my education at the right time due to some family issues, I am completing it now. The school (at Dadar) I go right now is in a terrible state but since I don't have any alternative, I will complete my class 10 and give private exams after that. At least it will let me continue work and keep supporting my family,” said Raksha Dubey, student of class 9.
The first night school was opened in 1885. Mumbai currently has close to 135 night schools which starts from 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm. According to the state education department, people from age group of 15 to 45 years prefer night schools to take formal and certified education.
